HB 95: Support members of Ohio Veterans Education Council
This bill provides an appropriation to support higher education institutions that are members of the Ohio Veterans Education Council. The funds will be used to support various initiatives, including providing awards to students serving as military community advocates, grants for military and veterans offices, and staff attendance at the national veterans leadership foundation's advancement institute. The funds will also be used to support the administrative costs of the national veterans leadership foundation, create a website to connect veterans to programs and offerings, administer membership and Ohio Purple Star status, and facilitate information sharing. Additionally, the bill allows the chancellor of higher education to consult with the director of veterans services as needed and to determine how to allocate the remaining funds as appropriate. The bill also establishes accounts to…
| May. 21, 2025 | Reported - Re-referred to Finance: Rules and Reference |
| May. 14, 2025 | Reported - Re-referred to Rules and Reference: Workforce and Higher Education |
| Feb. 12, 2025 | Referred to committee: Workforce and Higher Education |
| Feb. 11, 2025 | Introduced |
As Re-Referred by the House Rules and Reference Committee
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
H. B. No. 95
2025-2026
Representatives White, A., Stewart
Cosponsor: Representative Williams
A BILL
To make an appropriation to support higher education institutions that are members of the Ohio Veterans Education Council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1.
All items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund. For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these fiscal years.
Section 2.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | BOR DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION | B | General Revenue Fund |
| C | GRF 235450 Military and Veterans Offices | $1,144,000 | $1,144,000 |
| D | TOTAL GRF General Revenue Fund | ||
| E | TOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS | $1,144,000 | $1,144,000 |
MILITARY AND VETERANS OFFICES
(A) The foregoing appropriation item 235450, Military and Veterans Offices, shall be used by the Chancellor of Higher Education to support higher education institutions that are members of the Ohio Veterans Education Council. The Chancellor may consult with the Director of Veterans Services as needed.
(B) Of the foregoing appropriation item 235450, Military and Veterans Offices, up to $213,750 in each fiscal year shall be used by the Chancellor to provide awards of $2,500 per student to up to six students serving as a Military Community Advocate at an Ohio Veterans Education Council-member public university and up to three students serving as a Military Community Advocate at an Ohio Veterans Education Council-member public community college or private nonprofit university or college.
(C) Of the foregoing appropriation item 235450, Military and Veterans Offices, $255,000 in each fiscal year shall be used for grants for military and veterans offices at institutions of higher education to support growth in private philanthropy, in collaboration with the National Veterans Leadership Foundation.
(D) Of the foregoing appropriation item 235450, Military and Veterans Offices, $91,800 in each fiscal year shall be used to sponsor staff from military and veterans offices at institutions of higher education to attend the National Veterans Leadership Foundation's Advancement Institute.
(E) The remainder of the foregoing appropriation item 235450, Military and Veterans Offices, shall be used to do all of the following:
- Support the administrative costs of the National Veterans Leadership Foundation;
- Create a website to connect veterans to programs and offerings at all Ohio Veterans Education Council-member colleges and universities;
- Administer membership and Ohio Purple Star status;
- Facilitate information sharing;
- Support any other expenses as determined appropriate by the Chancellor, in consultation with the National Veterans Leadership Foundation.
Section 3.
Within the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act of the 136th General Assembly.